The European Union and the Colombian Peace Process: Normative Power beyond the European Borders?

Abstract

The European Union is renowned for its ability to transfer certain international norms and values to other countries, including democracy, respect for human rights and peace. This thesis analyzes the EU’s normative influence in the Colombian peace process. It first presents the European Union as a peacebuilding force and the theory of Normative Power Europe (NPE) as coined by Manners. Then, the thesis evaluates the EU’s involvement in the Colombian peace process, along the lines of Manners’ six factors of normative power diffusion. Finally, it indicates to what extent the EU’s policies have been normatively effective. This thesis concludes that despite a number of promising policy initiatives in support of peace, the European Union has not been able to truly establish a normative influence in Colombia, especially when compared to the United States.